CWRU Football Ranked 22nd in D3football.com Preseason Poll

The Case Western Reserve University football team was ranked 22nd in the D3football.com preseason poll, released on Monday.

The Spartans are coming off a 9-1 season, including a University Athletic Association title with a 2-1 ledger in the league, and a 7-1 Presidents' Athletic Conference mark to finish second in the conference. Among the team's top returners for 2017 will be senior quarterback and UAA Offensive Player of the Year Rob Cuda, senior D3football.com All-South Region center Gage Blair, and All-PAC Second Team selections in sophomore defensive end Cameron Brown, senior running back Jacob Burke, and senior offensive lineman Ryan DeMarinis. Returning Spartan players garnered a total of nine All-PAC honors and 16 All-UAA awards last season.

The Spartans were one of two Presidents' Athletic Conference ranked in the D3football.com poll, along with Thomas More College, which checked in at 19th. Other PAC schools to receive votes in the poll included Washington & Jefferson College and Westminster College, while University Athletic Association opponent Washington University (Mo.) received votes as well.

Mary Hardin-Baylor was ranked first in the poll, followed by Mount Union. UW-Whitewater, UW-Oshkosh and St. Thomas rounded out the top-five teams in the rankings.

The Spartans will open their 2017 campaign on Saturday, September 2 at the University of Chicago. The Spartans' home opener at DiSanto Field is scheduled for September 16 against Grove City.